Welcome to the Blog Tour for Regine’s Book by Regine Stokke.

Review turned personal heart melt

I was supposed to read and write a review for this book.

However, I chickened out on the reading part.

I have issues getting myself to read about dying people. I really wish I could have gotten over that fear and read this book because I really did want to. I think.

Let me give you a personal insight to my teen-aged years. When I was in 9th grade there were major issues at home. It was so bad that I moved in with my grandparents that lived about an hour from my parents. I was 13, nearly 14, and an average young adult. It was strange living with my grandparents at first but turned out to be pretty awesome. I never wanted to feel like a burden to them. I did my best to stay out of trouble, got good grades, tried to date decent guys and they were great back to me.

My grandfather, Poppy, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma cancer sometime before I moved in with them. My grandparents dedicated a huge chunk of their time going to and from doctors appointments and chemo treatments. I was only 13 and I wasn’t given specific information on exactly what was happening. I think they did this to protect me. I thank them for this.

I remember watching my grandfather get progressively more fragile as his treatments went on. The side effects from the chemo treatments were the worst. Seeing my grandfather in that light was one of the hardest things I have ever had to face. Since they lived about an hour away we didn’t see them too regularly. Every holiday for sure and sometimes in between. My Poppy was always the patriarch of my mom’s family. Always stood strong, had an amazing mustache and just exuded a fierceness for caring. He was always there when you needed him. The cancer/chemo sucked the life out him and it was heartbreaking.

I eventually moved back in with my parents before my sophomore year. I will never forget that year with them. I am thankful that I was not living with them in his last months. I can’t imagine what it would have been like to be there when he passed. I like to remember him before he got sick. To this day I can’t even try to picture him when he was sick, only when he was my Poppy.

Here’s a picture of him and my cousin.

I am sure the book is amazing. Maybe one day I will build up the courage to read it.

Regine’s Book: A Teen Girl’s Last Words by Regine Stokke

Zest Books | October 23, 2012 | 336 pages

  Summary

Regine’s blog about living with Leukemia gained a huge following, and eventually became this book. She writes openly about emotional and physical aspects of her 15-month struggle to recover, and explains how her disease impacts her life. In the course of her illness, Regine has photography exhibits, goes to concerts, enjoys her friends & family, and advocates for registering as a blood and bone marrow donor. She was a typical teenager with an amazing will to live; and the lessons she learned have relevance for all of us. She died at home on December 3, 2009 with her family and cat by her side. Originally published in Norway, the book was selected by the Norwegian Ministry of Culture for a translation grant. Norwegian sales are as follows: 30,000 copies hardcover (May – Dec 2010); 17,000 copies paperback (Jan – Sept 2011)

Connect with Zest Books

Zest Books is an award-winning publisher of smart and edgy titles that focus on the colorful chaos of teen life. These nonfiction books cover timely topics in creative ways by incorporating solid life advice, practical how-to instruction, and humorous commentary. Zest Books’ catalogue includes 97 Things to Do Before You Finish High School, Where’s My Stuff: The Ultimate Teen Organizing Guide, and Scandalous! 50 Shocking Events You Should Know About So You Can Impress Your Friends. In Fall 2012, Zest Books launches a new line of memoirs and first-person accounts, and Dear Teen Me is the first book in this new line. Zest Books is distributed by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Giveaway

One reader will receive the following prize pack:  a copy of Regine’s Book, a bookmark, and Zest Books literacy poster

This will be a comment only giveaway.

To enter

Please just leave a comment, filling out the entire comment form. Do NOT put your email address in the comment block.

Giveaway will end at least by December 11th or until I select the comment winner some time after that date.

Open to US mailing addresses only.